Discover Lewis Carroll’s playful and mathematical puzzle book, ‘A Tangled Tale,’ and read the complete collection online for free.
Published in 1885 under his real name, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, A Tangled Tale is a delightful departure from Lewis Carroll’s more famous works of fantasy. This charming book is a collection of ten short stories, originally serialized in The Monthly Packet magazine, each built around a mathematical problem or logical puzzle. Carroll presents these puzzles wrapped in whimsical, often romantic, narratives featuring knights, ladies, professors, and tourists. The chapters are called “Knots,” and readers are invited to “untangle” them. Answers (and the humorous names of readers who submitted correct solutions) were published in later issues and are included in the book, making it an interactive experience.
The tales are lighthearted and satirical, poking fun at Victorian fads, education, and romance. Knots involve calculating train timetables, dividing goods fairly, puzzling out family relationships, and other conundrums rooted in logic, algebra, and geometry. Carroll’s wit shines through in the dialogue and the absurd situations he creates. For example, one knot involves a barber who is “shaved by the Mayor, who is a man, and lives in the Town,” leading to a classic logical paradox. While the math is genuine, the presentation is anything but dry.
A Tangled Tale showcases Carroll’s unique dual identity: the whimsical storyteller and the precise Oxford mathematician. It is a book for lovers of puzzles, wordplay, and gentle satire. It proves that logic and imagination are not opposites but can be delightfully intertwined. Reading it feels like being invited to play an elaborate, good-natured game by one of literature’s most inventive minds.
On this page, you can try to untangle Carroll’s knots yourself. We offer the complete 1885 collection, with puzzles and answers, for online reading.
Book Info
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | A Tangled Tale |
| Author | Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) |
| Year of Publication | 1885 |
| Genre | Puzzle, Short Stories, Mathematical Fiction |
| Language | English (Original) |
| Legal Status | Public Domain |
| Format | Online Reading |
Read A Tangled Tale Online
Prepare to untangle your first Knot. Begin this playful puzzle-book by exploring the first story interactively below.
This preview presents the first charming puzzle-in-a-story, but all ten “Knots”—with their solutions and Carroll’s witty commentary—are available in the complete text for our subscribers.
A subscription unlocks this unique Carroll work and our library of puzzles, classics, and literary curiosities. Exercise your logic and your imagination.
About A Tangled Tale
The book’s charm lies in its hybrid nature. It is fiction, mathematics, satire, and a social game all in one.
Structure: Knots and Answers
Each of the ten chapters is a self-contained “Knot.” At the end of the book, Carroll provides a detailed “Answers to Knots” section, where he not only gives the solution but also reviews and grades the answers sent in by readers (whom he refers to by fanciful pseudonyms like “Balbus” or “A Stepney Coach”). This creates a wonderful sense of a shared intellectual community.
Mathematical Playfulness
The puzzles are not trivial; they require genuine thought and application of mathematical principles. However, Carroll presents them as natural parts of the story. Characters debate solutions, make mistakes, and reason things out aloud. This makes the math feel organic and fun, not like a textbook exercise. It’s a masterclass in teaching through narrative.
Satire and Social Commentary
Wrapped around the puzzles is gentle satire. Carroll mocks:
- Tourists: In knots set at seaside resorts.
- Academic Pedantry: Through characters like the learned Professor.
- Victorian Courtship: With tales of knights and ladies whose affections hinge on solving a problem.
- Fashionable Nonsense: Through characters who speak in absurdly convoluted logic.
The Voice of Lewis Carroll
The narrative voice is unmistakably Carrollian—polite, precise, and twinkling with mischief. He directly addresses the reader, chides them for carelessness, and praises clever solutions. Reading it feels like receiving personal letters from a wonderfully clever and slightly mischievous uncle.
Why Read A Tangled Tale Today?
In an age of passive entertainment, this book is an active delight. It engages the reader’s brain in a joyful, collaborative way. It’s perfect for anyone who enjoys escape rooms, logic puzzles, or brain teasers. It also beautifully demonstrates that STEM subjects (math, logic) and the humanities (storytelling, satire) are not separate worlds but can enrich each other.
It is also a fascinating glimpse into Victorian intellectual leisure. To read A Tangled Tale is to participate in a 19th-century puzzle party, to laugh at Carroll’s gentle jokes, and to feel the satisfaction of (hopefully) untying one of his cleverly constructed knots.
FAQ
Can I read A Tangled Tale for free?
Yes, you can read the first “Knot” for free via our interactive preview. Access to all ten puzzles and their solutions requires a subscription.
Do I need to be good at math to enjoy it?
A basic understanding of algebra and logic is helpful, but half the fun is in trying, even if you peek at the answers. The stories and Carroll’s witty presentation are enjoyable even if you don’t solve every puzzle.
Is it like Alice in Wonderland?
It has the same logical playfulness and love of absurdity, but it lacks the fantasy elements and dream logic. It’s set in the real (if silly) world and is grounded in mathematical truth.
Should I try to solve the puzzles before reading the answers?
Absolutely! That’s the intended experience. Read a Knot, put the book down, and try to work it out with pen and paper. The satisfaction is much greater.
Can I read it on my phone?
Yes, though you may want a notepad app handy to sketch out solutions. The short “Knot” format is perfect for mobile reading.